History doesn't have to be complicated, but it certainly can be dramatic. Our motto; Discovering the Past, Teaching to the Present, Learning for a Better Future. This podcast isn't just focused on the dates and facts, but delves into how history changes us and our society. History Here and Now offers informative episodes on different facets of world history. For the researchers and writers that listen, we'll discuss how to overcome research obstacles and get the most out of your writing. For more great content, visit historyhereandnowhhn.com for articles, book reviews, and other services.
History's Worst Battles: Death in the Desert: The Horns of Hattin
No battle arguably had more consequences in the Middle East than a confrontation between the Crusader states and Saladin in 1187 at the Horns of Hattin. United in their hatred for Muslims, characters like Reynald de Chatillon antagonized trade caravans and Muslim holy sites. Their actions mobilized the Sultan of Egypt and Syria, Saladin, who baited the large Crusader army into battle where the desert heat inflicted a harsh toll on their enemies. Saladin used the political infighting between the Crusaders to his advantage and ultimately crushed the Crusaders and leaving the lands undefended. Within four months of their victory, Saladin recaptured almost every Crusader stronghold, including Jerusalem and fought off the Third Crusade.
26 Jan 2022
History's Worst Battles: The Great Massacre of Elphinstone's Army
In the snowy mountains of the Hindu Kush, over 16,000 British troops and camp followers were at the mercy of the elements and guerrilla attacks from the rugged terrain. After ten days of struggling to reach their destination, the remnants of the 44th Regiment and their followers were outright massacred in the foothills outside Gandamak, Afghanistan. This is the story of the Massacre of Elphinstone's Army and the conditions that lead to this disastrous British defeat; one episode in the broader Great Game between Great Britain and Russia.
25 Jan 2022
The Immortal Memory of Robert Burns
Today's episode is a brief biography of one of the most notable Romantic era poets, Robert Burns. Born in 1759 to a poor Scottish farming family, Burns' life experiences and gift for prose made him a talented poet whose works covered a variety of themes. He wrote about nature, religion, and his liberal views made him a symbol for the struggles faced by the common man. His egalitarian style and message for political liberty and equality made him both loved and loathed by his contemporaries. Today, his poetic legacy lives on in Scottish descendants around the world honoring him with Burns Dinners and preserving his poetry. If you've ever sung Auld Lang Syne on New Year's Eve, you're carrying on the legacy of Robert Burns.
21 Jan 2022
History's Worst Battles: The Battle of Solferino and the Creation of the Red Cross
During the Second War of Italian Independence, 200,000 French, Italian, and Austrian troops brawled in a bare-knuckled, tight-quarters battle. Tactical blunders aside, poor organizational planning and preparation left many soldiers ill-equipped and without enough supplies. One observer, Henry Durant, recorded the carnage and vowed to change the way wars were fought. His advocacy for improving medical care for wounded soldiers and the humane treatment of prisoners paved the way for the establishment of the Geneva Convention and the International Red Cross.
14 Jan 2022
History's Worst Battles: The First Pyrrhic Victory - The Battle of Asculum
Battles aren't always great; sometimes they're downright awful. In this podcast miniseries, we'll look at some of the worst battles in history. Worst is a loose term, but in these cases we'll look at them in terms of lives lost, strategic blunders, costly victories, and horrible environmental conditions.
The original Pyrrhic victory was the Battle of Asculum in 279 BCE. Fought between King Pyrrhus of Epirus and the Roman Republic, this was the first battle involving elephants against Roman legions. Pyrrhus drove the Romans from the battlefield back to their camp, but he suffered enormous casualties that he couldn't afford to replace. Eventually he was forced to retreat to Greece which allowed the Romans to secure all of southern Italy. The term 'Pyrrhic victory' - a victory so costly it ultimately proves disastrous in the end - stems from this one battle.
10 Jan 2022
Gallantry and Valor: Requesting Military Awards
In the vast horizon that is U.S. military history, there's scant discussion on the history and process of awarding military medals and decorations. What may seem like a tedious subject is actually rich with historical information. Additionally, veterans can request replacements of their awards and that's when the National Archives steps in and helps. This episode will give a brief overview of how veterans can request their awards, the different channels, and give a basic overview of how the U.S. Armed Forces military honors systems functions.
9 Jan 2022
'Some People Have To Get Killed': CIA Operations in the Korean War
The CIA did not begin its Asian operations on the best circumstances. The agency's first 'hot war' on the Korean peninsula exposed a number of intelligence failures, training gaps, misunderstandings, and sheer ineptitude from officers. Korean operatives were sent on snipe hunts, organize resistance groups that didn't exist, and try to penetrate the Communist ranks in China and North Korea. All of these efforts ended horribly. Historians have criticized the role of the CIA in the Korean War and these painful lessons were applied to restructure agency operations, personnel, and missions. Content for today's episode was taken from CIA Historian Tim Weiner's book, Legacy of Ashes.
8 Jan 2022
Sakoku: The Isolation of Japan
For over two hundred years, the Tokugawa Shogunate implemented policy of discouraging foreign intervention and severely limiting and monitoring trade with other nations. This edict, known as 'Sakoku' was more than a political tool to keep out foreigners, but was shrewdly orchestrated to increase the power of the central government and limit European influence. For more information, check out the corresponding blog post on our website, History Here and Now!
3 Jan 2022
The Prophet's Bodyguard: A Look at the Life of Orrin Porter Rockwell (Part 2 of 2)
Continuing from a previous episode, we pick back up on the life of Western lawman and LDS Church figure, Orrin Porter Rockwell. Following the death of Joseph Smith Jr., Rockwell and the Saints pack up and move west to the Salt Lake Valley. Between 1844 and 1877, Rockwell was a bodyguard, hunter, scout, Pony Express rider, friend of the Indians, U.S. Marshal, rancher, and saloon keeper. Peppered throughout his life were stories of tracking down criminals, shootouts, and fighting both for and against the U.S. Army. This episode covers the latter half of his life in the American West.
2 Jan 2022
The Prophet's Bodyguard: A Look at the Life of Orrin Porter Rockwell (Part 1 of 2)
Chances are you've never heard of a great lawman of the Old American West: Orrin Porter Rockwell. His life reads like a Zane Grey novel, but overarching his story is his role in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He served as Joseph Smith Jr.'s bodyguard, was a U.S. Marshal, and crack shot who took in every criminal with a warrant. His entire life was dedicated to the Church and upholding the law. He was so formative that his actions made him a legend in his own time. This episode deals with the first half of his life in Missouri and Illinois, the infamous assassination attempt on Missouri Governor Lilburn Boggs, and the death of Joseph Smith.
1 Jan 2022
Westward They Go to God: The Handcart Pioneers
As the United States was in the throes of westward migration fever in the mid-19th century, another group of pioneers made their way west for the purpose of establishing a new Zion on Earth: the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. After facing years of prejudice and the martyrdom of their leader Joseph Smith Jr., the Saints struck out to the Salt Lake Valley, away from the reach of the federal government. Their method of transportation was also unique; wooden handcarts. They faced harsh conditions, disease, and accidents just as those trekking on the Oregon Trail. Hear some of their stories on the God-given mission to build a new home for their faith.
31 Dec 2021
Apaches in the Pacific: The Story of the 345th Bombardment Group
Serving on a bomber was one of the most hazardous jobs in World War II and the 345th Bombardment Group faced its fair share of combat. Assigned to the Pacific Theater, they carried out missions across the South Pacific, Southeast Asia, China, and Japan. For more about their accomplishments, visit History Here and Now and the companion blog post: https://historyhereandnowhhn.com/2020/09/13/apaches-in-the-pacific-the-story-of-the-345th-bombardment-group/
30 Dec 2021
Oklahoma Bat: The Military History of Fred Laverne Richardson
I'm back! After a short hiatus, today's episode is personal for me: my grandfather's World War II service in the Pacific with his unit, the 499th Bomb Squadron and the 345th Bomb Group. Early on, I only knew bits and pieces of his military service, but a re-examination of his life and experiences brought about this podcast on his accomplishments and time in the South Pacific. A kid from rural Oklahoma goes across the United States, the length of the Pacific Ocean, to New Guinea, the Philippines, and the Japanese islands and experiences warfare from the skies. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://historyhereandnowhhn.com/2021/02/19/oklahoma-bat-the-military-history-of-fred-laverne-richardson/
26 May 2021
Measuring Success by Counting Corpses
Progress in war is never easy to measure. In the Vietnam War, bodies were the metric, but it wasn't without its controversy. Today's podcast examines the practice of body count and how by its practice undermined the effectiveness of the U.S. military and its goals in South Vietnam. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://historyhereandnowhhn.com/2020/05/04/measuring-success-by-counting-corpses/
23 Apr 2021
The Unadulterated McCoy: Rum-Running on the Eastern Seaboard
When you think of Prohibition, you think of speakeasies, gangsters, and bootleggers. Not all bootleggers were alike and one of them, William McCoy, operated by a strict standards that made him a 'good' bootlegger. He never cheated his customers or suppliers and he never diluted his alcohol. When buying from William McCoy, you could count on getting the real thing; the real 'McCoy.'
This episode is also available as a blog post: http://historyhereandnowhhn.com/2020/06/22/the-unadulterated-mccoy-rum-running-on-the-eastern-seaboard/
1 Apr 2021
Witness to the Fall: A Review of ‘Decent Interval’ by Frank Snepp
In late April 1975, the U.S. had left South Vietnam, but the Communists still planned to reunite the country. CIA analyst Frank Snepp witnessed the collapse of the capital, Saigon, documenting his experience in his memoir 'Decent Interval'. In this podcast, I talk about the book and how the U.S. faltered in its rescue operation and the intelligence failures that accompanied the fall. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://historyhereandnowhhn.com/2021/01/07/witness-to-the-fall-a-review-of-decent-interval-by-frank-snepp/
25 Mar 2021
Humanity in the Ocean: The SEALAB Program and Capt. George Bond, MD
Did the U.S Navy spend millions of dollars researching how people who live and grow potatoes on the ocean floor? Yes, yes they did. SEALAB was the brain child of U.S. Navy doctor George Bond and his pioneering work on underwater human habitation propelled us to study and live in deep sea environments. For more podcasts and articles on fascinating historical subjects, visit historyhereandnowhhn.com today!
17 Mar 2021
In the Government Know: The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
An informed citizenry is essential to democracy. The Freedom of Information Act has been an effective tool for historians, researchers, journalists, and open government advocates. Today's topic discusses the origins and uses of the landmark legislation called FOIA. For more podcasts and blog posts, visit historyhereandnowhhn and subscribe for more historical content! This episode is also available as a blog post: http://historyhereandnowhhn.com/2021/03/13/in-the-government-know-the-freedom-of-information-act-foia/
16 Mar 2021
Americans, Germans, and French, Oh My: The Strange Battle for Castle Itter
Since when did the German Army ever fight on the same side as the United States in World War II. Well they did for the only time at Itter Castle. Hear the story of WWII's strangest battle as they fought the SS for hours in the closing days of the War in Europe. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://historyhereandnowhhn.com/2020/11/03/americans-germans-and-french-oh-my-the-strange-battle-for-castle-itter/
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